Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Trump Confuses Brazil’s Election With India While Criticising US Voting
Donald Trump wrote online that 125 million people had voted in India’s presidential election.
India was not holding a presidential election.
The details he mentioned instead matched Brazil’s election on October 4.
Brazil reported 125.27 million valid votes, and results started coming in when voting ended.
No candidate won enough votes to finish the race in one round.
Flávio Bolsonaro and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will compete in a runoff on October 25.
Trump used the comparison to criticize how long vote counting can take in parts of the United States.
He said American voting was corrupt.
India’s president is chosen by elected representatives, not by a direct nationwide vote.
Donald Trump claimed on Truth Social that 125 million people voted in the first round of India’s presidential election, although India was not holding one.
The figures and timing matched Brazil’s October 4 presidential vote; its electoral authority reported 125.27 million valid votes.
Brazilian results began arriving after polls closed at 5 p.m. and were updated as ballots were counted.
Flávio Bolsonaro and incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva advanced to an October 25 runoff after neither won a majority.
Trump used the comparison to claim US vote counts in places including Detroit, Philadelphia and California can take weeks, and called US voting corrupt.
- Who
- US President Donald Trump; Brazilian presidential candidates Flávio Bolsonaro and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
- What
- Trump described Brazil’s election as India’s presidential election while criticizing US vote counting.
- When
- Trump posted on Sunday or Monday, depending on the report’s time zone; Brazil’s first round was October 4, with the runoff scheduled for October 25.
- Where
- Trump posted on Truth Social; the election matching the figures took place in Brazil.
- Why
- Trump used the reported speed of Brazil’s results to argue that US election results can take too long to count.
Trump’s claims
Reported facts and context
Country and election
Trump’s claims
Trump described the vote as the first round of India’s presidential election.
Reported facts and context
India was not holding a presidential election; the timing and vote figures matched Brazil’s first round.
US vote-counting speed and integrity
Trump’s claims
Trump said results in places including Detroit, Philadelphia and California can take weeks to calculate and called US voting corrupt.
Reported facts and context
The articles report his allegations; they also note that US counting timelines vary by state and depend on rules and procedures. The articles do not establish his claim of corruption.
- Platform
- Truth Social
- Brazil first round
- October 4
- Brazil valid votes
- 125.27 million, according to Brazil’s electoral authority
- Brazil result timing
- Results began coming in at 5 p.m., when voting closed, and were updated as ballots were counted.
- Runoff candidates
- Flávio Bolsonaro and incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
- Runoff date
- October 25
- India’s presidential system
- The president is chosen indirectly by an electoral college of elected representatives; Droupadi Murmu took office in 2022, and the next election is due in 2027.
- Correction reported
- One article says Trump later corrected his post to refer to Brazil but quoted him as saying 25 million voted, a figure inconsistent with the reported Brazilian totals.
Sources
Trump goofs up on Brazil polls, says 125 million voted in India's Presidential Election
Viral gaffe: Trump mixes up India and Brazil in social post attacking us voting speed
Trump mistakes Brazil for India, says '125 million' voters in 'India's Presidential Election'
Trump confuses Brazil with India, says 125 million voted in ‘India’s Presidential Election’
President Donald Trump mixes up India with Brazil in social media post on ‘corrupt’ US electoral process
Trump corrects himself after referring to Brazil’s presidential election as India’s
Trump Cites ‘Indian Election’ That Never Happened to Slam US Voting
'125 Million Voted': Trump Confuses Brazil’s High-Stakes Election with 'India's Presidential Polls' on Social Media
‘125 million voted in India’s Presidential Election’: Trump’s faux pas amid Brazil polls
Trump confuses Brazil presidential elections with India
Donald Trump Mixes Up India With Brazil While Attacking US Election Process
